Henri Louis Bergson was a French philosopher who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927. His last name, Bergson, is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /bɛʁ.ɡsɔ̃/ in French. The letter "g" in French is pronounced like the "j" sound in English, while the nasal "on" sound at the end is unique to the French language. Bergson's first name, Henri, is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ɑ̃.ʁi/. The nasal "en" sound in French is similar to the "an" sound in the English word "can".
Henri Louis Bergson (1859-1941) was a French philosopher renowned for his contributions to the field of metaphysics, philosophy of time, and the concept of consciousness. His ideas significantly influenced both philosophy and psychology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Bergson's philosophy focused on the dynamic nature of reality and the inherent creative vitality of life. He criticized the classical metaphysical traditions that viewed reality as fixed and static, proposing instead a philosophy that emphasized the flux and constant change inherent in the universe. This concept of evolution, both biological and metaphysical, formed the basis of many of his theories.
One of Bergson's most significant concepts is "duration," which he defined as the continuous flow of time that cannot be divided into separate moments. He argued that this durational perspective of time allowed a deeper understanding of reality than the traditional linear and measurable concept of time. According to Bergson, consciousness plays a crucial role in shaping our experience of time and perceiving reality.
Bergson's ideas also extended into the realm of intuition, emphasizing the importance of direct experience and immediate knowledge. He believed that intuition provided access to a higher form of truth beyond what could be grasped through intellect and reasoning alone.
Throughout his career, Henri Bergson received numerous accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1927. His philosophical ideas and concepts continue to inspire and provoke intellectual debate, making him one of the influential thinkers of his time.